MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'distraction'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 02:01:50 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5096340&cid=t_113249_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F04%2F8-practical-pointers-to-help-your-child-pay-attention%2F Getting kids to pay attention is hard enough. But thanks to today’s technological advances, it can become an even bigger challenge. For instance, a University of Washington study found a link between toddlers watching TV and diminished attention spans by seven years old. Another study from UCLA found that kids who used technology had less reflective thought. Interestingly, however, they did have greater visual-spatial skills. “Technology is producing learners with a new set of cognitive strengths and weaknesses,” said Lucy Jo Palladino, Ph.D, psychologist, attention expert and author of Dreamers, Discoverers & Dynamos: How to Help the Child Who Is Bright, Bored and Having Problems in School, a guide for kids who are inventive thinkers, crave novelty and are strongly drawn to dist... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5096340 Thu, 04 Aug 2011 15:49:03 +0100 5096340 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5086260&cid=t_113249_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F07%2F31%2Fsometimes-im-tempted-to-fight-my-new-passion%2F For the last month or so, I’ve been possessed with a passionate interest in the sense of smell. I follow the resolution to cultivate good smells — I’ve read lots of books, I’ve started disciplining myself to be more aware of the smells that I encounter in my day, I’ve been eliminating sources of bad smell in my home (a very worthwhile endeavor, by the way), and I’ve also become interested in perfume. I’ve never had much interest in perfume, but suddenly I am, because so much of the energy and writing around the subject of smell is related to perfume. I’m newly fascinated by perfume, but I’m also fascinated by my own process of becoming fascinated. As Virginia Woolf noted in her Diary: “I must remember to write about my clothes next time I have an impulse to write. M... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5086260 Sun, 31 Jul 2011 11:39:58 +0100 5086260 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5008721&cid=t_113249_180_f&fid=38607&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fsuccessbeginstoday%2FBHWQ%2F%7E3%2FRfhFUZK9-9E%2F I written extensively over the years about the Power of 48 minutes. Simply this is a way to divide an hour up 80/20. The way the program works is to block out all distractions and do one task for 48 minutes and then take a 12 minute break. Repeat as necessary. The beauty of it is its simplicity. Using this single-tasking idea has helped me accomplish many large projects over the years such as writing a book, training for a triathlon, and getting my workday under control. The key to making it work is preparation. I need to clear my area of distractions by turning off e-mail, my phone, and any browsers I may have open. I then set a timer for 48 minutes and begin. The really cool thing about a 48 minute period is that it can be divided in many different ways. You can do two projects in that t... Success Begins Today blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5008721 Fri, 08 Jul 2011 14:15:22 +0100 5008721 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4921521&cid=t_113249_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2F09%2Fhow-our-intuitions-deceive-us-part-2-interview-with-daniel-simons%2F In part one of this interview, we began exploring the limits of human perception with Daniel Simons, a Psychology professor and co-winner of an Ig Noble prize.  This conversation is part two of that discussion. Assuming you can name only one, what is one of the most popular myths associated with attention? How about one for memory? We assume that we will automatically notice anything that appears before our eyes, regardless of what else we’re doing.  But, in reality, we’re only aware of a tiny subset of the world around us, and our awareness depends critically on the focus of our attention. Without focusing our attention, we can look without seeing.  We tend to miss unexpected objects and events because they do not attract our attention. And, without our attention, we don&#8... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4921521 Thu, 09 Jun 2011 10:15:05 +0100 4921521 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4828987&cid=t_113249_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F05%2F14%2F8-reasons-why-twitter-can-make-you-happy%2F I’m a huge fan of Twitter, and I’ve tried to persuade several people to give it a try. (My greatest triumph: convincing my sister to use it. Seeing my sister in my Twitter feed — that makes me very happy.) We’ve all seen how Twitter can play an unprecedented role in world events and in news communication. But on a very personal, routine level, there are several (other) ways in which Twitter can boost your happiness. After all, is it just a coincidence that a blue bird is both the symbol for happiness and the symbol for Twitter? Probably yes, I know, but still, it’s a happy coincidence. 1. Twitter allows you to pursue your passion — even if only in your imagination. A key to a happier life is to have fun – people who regularly have fun are twenty times ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4828987 Sat, 14 May 2011 16:30:58 +0100 4828987 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4794898&cid=t_113249_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F05%2F06%2Fbest-of-our-blogs-may-6-2011%2F I took a few days off last week basking in the glow of a rare and beautiful sunny sky in Portland, Oregon. It felt like heaven. I almost forgot what it felt like to really live, to have the kind of day I think Leonardo da Vinci is talking about when he said, “As a well-spent day brings happy sleep, so life well used brings happy death.” And it didn’t take much to make me feel that way. Just a bike ride near the water, dinner with friends, a trip to the zoo with my nephew. But in comparison to the daily grind, the to-do lists that never get finished, the endless amount of tasks that pile one atop the other, the feeling of just being for the sake of being was pure bliss. I realized that what was so sublime about the experience was that I was completely living in the moment.... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4794898 Fri, 06 May 2011 10:45:55 +0100 4794898 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4775579&cid=t_113249_140_f&fid=35443&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FTheSplinteredMind%2F%7E3%2FQPuNfogxByQ%2Ften-ways-i-focusing-in-on-my-success.html With a new week ahead of us, today is a perfect day to get started on whatever we've been putting off starting. You KNOW you've been putting off SOMETHING. Isn't that always the case? No? I envy you then. Unfortunately for me, I have too many irons in the fire all the time. I don't actively put anything off; procrastination is just what happens on my way to something new & exciting. This week I am fired up, however. I have decided to finish my first draft at all costs this month. You may recall that I have been confronting my obstacles over the past year in an effort to become an author. I set big goals and made big mistakes, but I learned so much about myself and how to overcome my limitations.Setting big goals is the easy part. To make this new goal happen I am knuckling down on Distract... The Splintered Mind by Douglas Cootey blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4775579 Mon, 02 May 2011 20:17:52 +0100 4775579 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4714988&cid=t_113249_140_f&fid=35443&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FTheSplinteredMind%2F%7E3%2F3pr4CpER5rg%2Fthings-i-did-yesterday-instead-of.html I woke up bleary eyed at 11:30am and discovered I was still in bed with Sickness. Some time around 4am, Sickness climbed into bed with me and tried to snuggle, but only succeeded in stealing the covers. I read news for 30 minutes, which was pretty short considering how fried my brain was. I read something else. I'm sure it was important and not at all newsy in shape or form.  I spent time wrestling with Sickness, who had a lot more energy than I did. I did, however, manage to talk Sickness out of a game of Twister. Unfortunately, I couldn't talk Sickness into letting me exercise.  I played with Instagram and Viddy (douglascootey on both) and updated apps on my iPhone because that didn't require any energy. I did, however, thank Sickness for talking me out of exercising. I spent some... The Splintered Mind by Douglas Cootey blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4714988 Thu, 14 Apr 2011 22:21:52 +0100 4714988 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4684716&cid=t_113249_140_f&fid=35443&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FTheSplinteredMind%2F%7E3%2FT4S3RSBOoh8%2Fadhd-lil-bedlamites-make-horrible-co.html Can a full-time dad with ADHD find time to write a novel? After a year trying, I can safely say, "ARGH!" Although ADHD has been and will continue to be my greatest obstacle in completing this novel, family has proven to be my greatest external disruption. Take today, for instance. I woke up wondering if my debut novel was interesting enough. I've been working on it off and on for over a year and beginning to be bored with it. Maybe something else would be more exciting? Maybe there's not enough peril? ADHD and a bit of Depression are mixing with my morning, and after less than 45 seconds of this I think "Shut up." I'm not going to abandon this story in the last fifth of the book after working so hard to come this far. Besides, the next chapter features phantom cats with big teeth. Peri... The Splintered Mind by Douglas Cootey blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4684716 Wed, 06 Apr 2011 19:58:47 +0100 4684716 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4540732&cid=t_113249_140_f&fid=35443&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FTheSplinteredMind%2F%7E3%2Fwu9WsxM9XOc%2Fdouble-fisted-typing-action.html Perhaps the most unappreciated feature on my blog is the Distracted Writers Club. I can't imagine why. Who wouldn't find the blood pounding in their veins when reading about stupendous goals like writing 25 words in ONE SINGLE DAY‽ Ironically, this feeble goal was key to transforming my writing productivity. I’ve stated before that writing a lot wasn’t a problem for me. In fact, I can spout my opinion here so easily that I’ve given myself an artificial cap of 900 words per post just to spare you. The problem was sitting down and beginning. For some reason creative writing was difficult for me. I just couldn’t justify it. Perhaps because the reward was so far off in the future. With blogging, the rewards were more immediate. Google ranking. Subscribers. Page views. Comments (... The Splintered Mind by Douglas Cootey blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4540732 Wed, 02 Mar 2011 22:41:21 +0100 4540732 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4419479&cid=t_113249_180_f&fid=38607&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fsuccessbeginstoday%2FBHWQ%2F%7E3%2F0cqNLdfj7tg%2F They are coming for you. Demanding your attention. Everywhere you look, they’re there. They might be red and flashing, or green and sublime… but they are insidious. They will take your most precious resource and consume it entirely. I’m talking about DISTRACTIONS. It might be your web browser, it might be Facebook. The phone may start ringing and force you to answer. And then there is the king of all distractions… e-mail. Pop… you’ve got mail. Resist if you can… but you know you must see the latest joke, cute puppy picture, or heaven forbid… a free iPod deal!! So there is one answer, if you are ever going to get something done. Yes you know it’s coming Yes you were right… you must… TURN THEM OFF!! But then what… how do you get something done? It’s rather simple r... Success Begins Today blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4419479 Mon, 31 Jan 2011 13:19:45 +0100 4419479 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4133837&cid=t_113249_109_f&fid=34761&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedblitz.com%2F%7E%2F21841785%2F0%2Fneuromarketing%7ESix-Selling-Secrets-From-Magicians.htm If you think that magicians and neuroscientists have little to talk about, you’d be wrong: both deal with issues like attention and consciousness, albeit in a different way. And, as it turns out, marketers can learn from both groups, and in particular, from understanding why magicians can fool us even when we are trying to [...] CommentsCommentsRelated StoriesSubliminal MotivationAbout Face by Dan HillNo-Attention Branding (Source: Neuromarketing) Neuromarketing blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4133837 Thu, 04 Nov 2010 11:02:59 +0100 4133837 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4125246&cid=t_113249_140_f&fid=35443&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FTheSplinteredMind%2F%7E3%2FfRHg_w-lJHY%2Fdistracted-writers-club-25-words-per.html Main Challenge Page Like the 50 Words Per Day Challenge and the 100 Words Per Day Challenge, the goal of the Distracted Writers Club 25 Words Per Day Challenge is simple: to train distracted and busy writers to write daily. I was inspired by two things: the Inkygirl Wordcount Challenge and NaNoWriMo. One was like a fresh breath of air in a stuffy room and the other felt like a vacuum opened up into space sucking the very life out of me. My problem wasn't being motivated to write. I could write plenty. My problem was that my life was not organized around writing. Maybe you can relate. You're a writer with good intentions and high enthusiasm who writes around the edges of your busy life. You've started projects like NaNoWriMo and found that although you were emotionally committed to the ... The Splintered Mind by Douglas Cootey blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4125246 Mon, 01 Nov 2010 11:17:34 +0100 4125246 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4125243&cid=t_113249_140_f&fid=35443&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FTheSplinteredMind%2F%7E3%2Fy0Y3CcmS638%2Fwelcome-to-distracted-writers-club.html The goal of the Distracted Writers Club is simple: to train distracted and busy writers to write daily. I was inspired by two things: the Inkygirl Wordcount Challenge and NaNoWriMo. One was like a fresh breath of air in a stuffy room and the other felt like a vacuum opened up into space sucking the very life out of me. My problem wasn't being motivated to write. I could write plenty. My problem was that my life was not organized around writing. Maybe you can relate. You're a writer with good intentions and high enthusiasm who writes around the edges of your busy life. You've started projects like NaNoWriMo and found that although you were emotionally committed to the daily effort, your time schedule was not. Soon you found work, family, responsibilities, life, etc. interfering with your... The Splintered Mind by Douglas Cootey blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4125243 Mon, 01 Nov 2010 11:13:56 +0100 4125243 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4125244&cid=t_113249_140_f&fid=35443&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FTheSplinteredMind%2F%7E3%2FrtsopBuzcw8%2Fdistracted-writers-club-100-words-per.html Main Challenge Page Like the 25 Words Per Day Challenge and the 50 Words Per Day Challenge, the goal of the Distracted Writers Club 100 Words Per Day Challenge is simple: to train distracted and busy writers to write daily. I was inspired by two things: the Inkygirl Wordcount Challenge and NaNoWriMo. One was like a fresh breath of air in a stuffy room and the other felt like a vacuum opened up into space sucking the very life out of me. My problem wasn't being motivated to write. I could write plenty. My problem was that my life was not organized around writing. Maybe you can relate. You're a writer with good intentions and high enthusiasm who writes around the edges of your busy life. You've started projects like NaNoWriMo and found that although you were emotionally committed to the ... The Splintered Mind by Douglas Cootey blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4125244 Mon, 01 Nov 2010 11:12:07 +0100 4125244 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4125245&cid=t_113249_140_f&fid=35443&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FTheSplinteredMind%2F%7E3%2FNYa86k6sTC8%2Fdistracted-writers-club-50-words-per.html Main Challenge Page Like the 25 Words Per Day Challenge and the 100 Words Per Day Challenge, the goal of the Distracted Writers Club 50 Words Per Day Challenge is simple: to train distracted and busy writers to write daily. I was inspired by two things: the Inkygirl Wordcount Challenge and NaNoWriMo. One was like a fresh breath of air in a stuffy room and the other felt like a vacuum opened up into space sucking the very life out of me. My problem wasn't being motivated to write. I could write plenty. My problem was that my life was not organized around writing. Maybe you can relate. You're a writer with good intentions and high enthusiasm who writes around the edges of your busy life. You've started projects like NaNoWriMo and found that although you were emotionally committed to the ... The Splintered Mind by Douglas Cootey blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4125245 Mon, 01 Nov 2010 11:06:12 +0100 4125245 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4061062&cid=t_113249_140_f&fid=35443&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FTheSplinteredMind%2F%7E3%2Flff22cvoZe0%2Fchapter-four-torture-is-over.html With great effort, and not a little wrestling with the Embodiment of Boredom itself, I have completed my novel's revision and laid the groundwork for its rapid completion. Hahaha! I kill myself with statements like that. As if somehow this will be my last stumbling block, and writing will be no more difficult than plucking dandelions from here on out. What this does represent for me, however, is victory, no matter how small. As I have detailed over and over again, my cognitive issues are major obstacles for my writing goals. However, I have remained convinced that I can train myself via Cognitive Behavioral Techniques and sheer will to be a better, more productive writer. It's not as if I can pop a pill and make my troubles go away. It has not been an easy task.  My attention span ... The Splintered Mind by Douglas Cootey blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4061062 Mon, 11 Oct 2010 22:52:50 +0100 4061062 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3965671&cid=t_113249_140_f&fid=35443&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FTheSplinteredMind%2F%7E3%2F-g_YzLASCpI%2Fhush-children-writing-hour-has-begun.html Finally the apartment is growing still. With two kids up sick, the Leprechaun thought it was a vacation night again. Everyone except my wife was up late. With them all finally in bed, perhaps now I can get to writing. One thing I have learned in undertaking this project is that I cannot write when the kids are up. I'm not like those other supermom authors out there, with a baby on the hip, one hand on the laptop henpecking away, and food a'cookin' on the stove with their toes while they arrange on the phone play dates with other mothers. They are rare, magical creatures to me.  No matter how much I want to deny it, my ADHD limits my ability to multitask. I can do only one thing at a time. If I am on duty I must keep alert. In order to write or draw I must be immersed. The two are not co... The Splintered Mind by Douglas Cootey blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3965671 Tue, 14 Sep 2010 05:58:35 +0100 3965671 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3743718&cid=t_113249_140_f&fid=35443&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FTheSplinteredMind%2F%7E3%2Ftk3u9ukriig%2Fwild-night-wild-goal.html What a singularly bizarre, but wonderful night. We weren't able to discuss my Splintered Books Project as I had hoped, but it was a good time spent regardless. My wife & I don't date enough. We work, care for kids, clean, rinse, and repeat, but we don't date.  First, the bizarre. The venue the concert was at was a bit wild. My wife and I haven't been to a club in over ten years. She stood wide eyed, and I was bemused, by the antics of the youthful twenty-somethings around us. The majority of the patrons looked as if they were the rejects from a Jersey Shore audition. Most of the guys were in tight t-shirts and jeans, the girls in shimmery slips. In fact, I overheard one gentleman complaining that he had never seen so many "guidos". The club was a veritable meat market, complete with hun... The Splintered Mind by Douglas Cootey blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3743718 Sun, 11 Jul 2010 17:54:17 +0100 3743718 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3691087&cid=t_113249_140_f&fid=35443&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FTheSplinteredMind%2F%7E3%2FC7YtPd-4YFo%2Fgetting-back-up-in-saddle.html As I sit here typing, the sun is setting—leaving golden hues on the tallest buildings. The sky is a gorgeous blue with streaks of white and purple-gray clouds. Two contrails leave a white scar in the air like a badly formed, backwards "Y". I notice all this and still my brain has not returned to me. First, the StormYesterday was a neurological nightmare, made worse by my ogre-like personality which was stoked by the electrical storm in my mind. I fell asleep around 11:30pm, early for me these days, and slept for four hours. Later I napped for two. Somehow this was enough to recharge my mind and give me enough presence to zip around town like a hummingbird on wheels. Even with the AC on full blast my brain still cooked due to our right passenger window being stuck open. My mind doesn't f... The Splintered Mind by Douglas Cootey blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3691087 Thu, 24 Jun 2010 08:06:57 +0100 3691087 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3629847&cid=t_113249_140_f&fid=35443&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FTheSplinteredMind%2F%7E3%2FQLa88tQb5NE%2Fand-so-began-my-day.html Today was supposed to be my big "writer's escape". We can't afford to send me away to a workshop this year, not with the costs of computers and sudden car repairs being what they are. I can't even afford a weekend retreat locked away in a motel somewhere. But I could, theoretically, get away for a few days as long as I didn't actually go anywhere.The theory was that I would leave in the morning, hide away at Barnes & Noble or the library, and write my fingers off. The kids, the oldest being 15, would fend for themselves and my wife would take over at night more so than she usually does. I'd do it for three days and work exclusively on my work in progress—currently "Sneakers' Secret" (#snkrz). By isolating myself I would be able to immerse into the work. Immersion would allow my ADHD hype... The Splintered Mind by Douglas Cootey blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3629847 Fri, 04 Jun 2010 07:49:47 +0100 3629847 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3573924&cid=t_113249_140_f&fid=35443&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FTheSplinteredMind%2F%7E3%2FxTv2h03K3lo%2Fsleepwriting-and-other-musings.html I'm afraid Monday's article will be late. It is now going to be Tuesday's article. I had planned on writing about the answers several authors gave me when I asked them about their daily word count goals. However, my youngest daughter had a seizure yesterday morning in the wee hours. I found myself out buying OJ instead of sleeping. Contrary to popular belief, I do actually sleep. Yesterday at 4am was supposed to be one of those times. Alas.I am now twitching and ticking and falling asleep with bobbing head while trying to finish the ADDaboy! article I forgot to finish earlier, or actually was unable to finish earlier because I was ticking and then watching the season ender of Castle. And Chuck. It is almost 4am again and this time I had hoped to sleep at 1am, but alas again. I have an arti... The Splintered Mind by Douglas Cootey blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3573924 Tue, 18 May 2010 10:05:21 +0100 3573924 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3515606&cid=t_113249_140_f&fid=35443&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FTheSplinteredMind%2F%7E3%2FuVFbuDmFy1c%2Fadhd-insomnia-my-colorful-life.html It is Wensday. I will be writing soon. On a book and everything. Maybe even my current book. The question is what delayed me? After all, the week began three days ago. And Wensday's such an awkward day to begin. The week's half gone & it's not even spelled correctly. Friday, my ADDaboy! writing day, is right around the corner. That means I have to park my novel for another spell of blogging. The more I think about it, the more I realize that I am not happy about this. Wait, wasn't there a question? Right. What delayed me? I think I have the answer. This is a TweetStats chart of my Twitter activity for @SplinteredMind. @DouglasCootey shares similar stats, but is less active. The chart is a great visual record of when I’m awake. In short, I’m working at the ... The Splintered Mind by Douglas Cootey blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3515606 Thu, 29 Apr 2010 13:00:02 +0100 3515606 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3505121&cid=t_113249_140_f&fid=35443&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FTheSplinteredMind%2F%7E3%2FjYwBLAu3zd0%2Fin-which-douglas-spots-problem.html At first I thought the switch from MacBook to iPad couldn't have come at a worse time. Then I realized that as an adult with ADHD there never was a good time for such a switch. It was destined to disrupt my life. Exchanging one workflow for another always has a price in time lost for most people. Fortunatley, I'm up to speed now and I expect more helpful apps will arise from the iPad walled garden with a bit of Apple sunshine, some consumer supplied water, and a developer's eager hoe. I can be patient. The real threat to my novels project is not my iPad. The iPad is slick, shiny, nifty, and fun. I rather like it. I love how light it is. I like the interface. I don't regret purchasing it. There are splendiferous apps coming out for it almost daily, and a lot of them are free or only 99¢.... The Splintered Mind by Douglas Cootey blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3505121 Mon, 26 Apr 2010 14:00:05 +0100 3505121 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3505122&cid=t_113249_140_f&fid=35443&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FTheSplinteredMind%2F%7E3%2FW-CLGV0vAIE%2Fin-which-douglas-his-ipad-get-along.html The Story So Far: Intrepid writer, Douglas Cootey, was sweet talked into promising his shiny, new MacBook to his high school sophomore. Two years later, his MacBook no longer shiny and his bank account even less so, the hour came to keep his promise. What was he to do? Fortunately, the noble and righteous Apple company bestowed upon its minions a new "magical" device that could do almost everything a laptop could do, do it with multi-touch style, and even cure cancer. Douglas was saved! Then he actually had to use the thing… If you've been following my blog for the past few months, you know I was getting an iPad. I had planned on writing about the experience weekly, but adapting from a MacBook to an iPad has been full of fascinating obstacles which have taken up my time. Adapting my com... The Splintered Mind by Douglas Cootey blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3505122 Mon, 26 Apr 2010 13:00:13 +0100 3505122 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3436289&cid=t_113249_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F04%2F03%2Ffaa-still-stigmatizes-depression-mental-illness%2F The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Friday cleared pilots who have depression to regain their flying privileges, with one tiny caveat — they have to be taking one of only four “approved” antidepressants. I can only express my extreme disappointment at this decision, because while it has the potential to help pilots take to the air again if they were suffering from depression, it fails to recognize other effective treatments for depression. Apparently the FAA doesn’t recognize the effectiveness of psychotherapy in the treatment of depression. This despite something on the order of four decades’ (or more) worth of research demonstrating its effectiveness for everything from mild to severe depression. In fact, if anything, there’s more resear... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3436289 Sat, 03 Apr 2010 20:27:15 +0100 3436289 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3429433&cid=t_113249_140_f&fid=35443&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FTheSplinteredMind%2F%7E3%2FeA-o5-f2f24%2Fit-been-that-kinda-day.html I'm not going to complain. It was a productive day considering the chaos that went on in my kitchen.The problem is the toll it had on me. Let me explain.I'm not a creature of habit as much as I wish, but I have trained myself to write at the kitchen table. When I sit there to work, I don't wander off to watch TV or traipse into the living room to find a good book. I work. I write blogs, articles, and novels on my MacBook at the kitchen table. I do design and coding on my Mac mini in the studio. I even have different apps installed on each machine. It works for me.Sometimes I succumb to the siren call of HTML and click on certain links. You know the kind. Hot, steamy, sticky news links. The more revealing & controversial the better. As entertaining as that can be, it doesn't help me get any... The Splintered Mind by Douglas Cootey blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3429433 Thu, 01 Apr 2010 03:15:51 +0100 3429433 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3408619&cid=t_113249_140_f&fid=35443&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FTheSplinteredMind%2F%7E5%2FfhkVD_zyrbg%2FevocaPlayer.swf Ah, Spring is in the air.And eyes.My eyes, specifically. They feel as if they've been coated with Vaseline's new Beach Sand & Jalepeño lotion. Thankfully, I have learned the wonderfully soothing balm of eye rinses and Claritin D. My problem today is that I forgot to take the Claritin D. ADHD is murder on healthcare. Despite moving through tar filled vats of sluggish apathy, I managed to write today in #snkrz. Not too soon after I decided that I just had to write the thing and stop rewriting chapter one, I found a flaw that required a rewrite of chapter one. I worked on that today, fleshed out new conversations, and finally felt the story start to gel. It was a good day.I feel, however, that it could have been a better day if I wasn't so sick and out of it all the time. I spend an awful lo... The Splintered Mind by Douglas Cootey blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3408619 Fri, 26 Mar 2010 04:49:35 +0100 3408619 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3383062&cid=t_113249_140_f&fid=35443&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FTheSplinteredMind%2F%7E3%2FyjbTXCXbr9c%2Fplaying-fetch-with-my-mind.html What is it they say about how life comes in threes? Oh, yeah. "Life comes in threes."I'm glad I looked that up. It was so much more complicated than I remembered.I've moved from illness to new CPAP fatigue to seasonal allergies and I haven't even left the state. So much excitement right here in Utah. I wouldn't mention it except for the fact that this is supposed to be a blog about writing, and so far it's a blog about how I don't write. I'd like to change that today. Truly, deeply…Here's what I'm going to do. As Dan Willis mentioned to me on Tuesday, I have ADD like a puppy. It's alright. He's an author. They like to use similes. Besides, I enjoyed the imagery of seeing my attention romp about with its tongue wagging too much to be offended. Anyways, what was I saying?Right. Here's what... The Splintered Mind by Douglas Cootey blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3383062 Thu, 18 Mar 2010 23:03:26 +0100 3383062 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3302622&cid=t_113249_140_f&fid=35443&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FTheSplinteredMind%2F%7E3%2FrKWfgOFTJac%2Fwriting-novels-with-apple-ipad-am-i.html No. I'm not insane. I just have ADHD.Generally speaking, I'm constantly short on cash and must save up over a long period of time for my toys. So I find myself in a quandary. My daughter heads off to college with my MacBook in April (as I promised her), but my savings account isn't quite MacBook Pro/Air ready yet. What to do?Apple, sensing my need, released the iPad upon the world. The clouds parted. The tech was slick. It was only $499. I was set. Or was I? Had I found my solution, or was I just on another ADHD fueled hunt again?I use my MacBook for reading news, researching my novel, reading news, blogging, writing my novel, and reading news. I also manage my network & files with it, as well as download an obscene amount of TV content from all over the world. The iPad can easily let me r... The Splintered Mind by Douglas Cootey blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3302622 Wed, 24 Feb 2010 14:00:03 +0100 3302622 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3259223&cid=t_113249_140_f&fid=35443&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FTheSplinteredMind%2F%7E3%2FWqhbcMlWEk8%2Fpics-links-tabs-can-be-happy-things.html While I work on my Words Per Day article (where I interviewed various authors about their daily goals), I thought I'd post a photo and some links. I was surprised how empty Target was when I took this shot. If anything shows the downturn in the economy, this 9:45pm shot does. Target is usually hopping until closing. It' a metaphor for my life at the moment: All stocked up with no action. I need to infuse some life back into my existence. That's why I've decided to attend Life, the Universe, and Everything this Friday & Saturday. I haven't attended that symposium since at least 1997. I figure I should have the first chapter of Sneakers finished and under my belt by Thursday night. It's a good goal.Building Communities - You've probably read lots of articles on how to create phenomenal blog ... The Splintered Mind by Douglas Cootey blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3259223 Wed, 10 Feb 2010 13:36:16 +0100 3259223 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3216825&cid=t_113249_140_f&fid=35443&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FTheSplinteredMind%2F%7E3%2FhKlAX2AOQHk%2Fwill-ipad-make-me-better-writer.html Over at HealthyPlace.com I wrote this morning about how ADHD tastes to me. If you've followed my blog here you'll know that social gaffes and I tend to go hand in hand. The gaffe I reference in that article was perhaps mild compared to past mistakes, but certainly not anything to dismiss lightly—though I do my best.While it is true that my blogging over at HealthyPlace.com has been going well, something I feared might happen is very much indeed happening: I'm not writing my books; I'm just blogging. There are two solutions. One is to quit blogging over at HealthyPlace.com, but I can't emphasize enough how distasteful that solution is. This is an opportunity for growth for me. I can step up to the next level if I master this transition in my life. The other solution is simply to write fas... The Splintered Mind by Douglas Cootey blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3216825 Thu, 28 Jan 2010 04:11:32 +0100 3216825 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3142818&cid=t_113249_140_f&fid=35443&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FTheSplinteredMind%2F%7E3%2FxnSUlnyGumg%2Fsplintered-books-project.html The Goal:To finish a picture book, a chapter book, and a novel by December 23, 2010 and submit them to a publisher. Each project has its own unique challenges, not the least of which is actually reaching the end after the beginning has been written.The Writer:A sad, sap of a guy. Douglas Cootey is a married, full-time dad raising four girls in the Salt Lake Valley of Utah who has long ago overcome his aversion to the color Pink. Until this point, Douglas has blogged about overcoming AD/HD & Depression with humor & pluck, but now he wonders if there is something else out there for him—something more noble than telling the world how he forgot to put his pants on one day when stepping outside. Can he set a goal, give himself an entire year to meet it, and remember to stay on track?The Obsta... The Splintered Mind by Douglas Cootey blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3142818 Tue, 05 Jan 2010 15:03:57 +0100 3142818 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3063368&cid=t_113249_122_f&fid=34755&url=http%3A%2F%2Fneuropsychological.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F12%2Fattention-and-distractibility-placing.html A feature article in today's New York Times:Promoting the Car Phone, Despite RisksBy MATT RICHTELThe New York TimesPublished: December 7, 2009"Industry pioneers have long been aware of the risks of multitasking behind the wheel, but still marketed cellphones to drivers."Read the article (Source: BrainBlog) BrainBlog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3063368 Mon, 07 Dec 2009 15:57:00 +0100 3063368 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2881206&cid=t_113249_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F10%2F11%2Fa-loved-ones-photo-helps-reduce-your-pain%2F Previous psychological research has demonstrated that the mere presence of a loved one — a partner, family member or friend — can help reduce one’s subjective experience of physical pain (for instance, during a medical procedure), versus experiencing similar pain while alone. This research has been replicated over the years in various settings and in such a way as to suggest that this indeed might be a causal relationship. That is, the presence of a loved one actually helps reduce our feelings of pain. What is this same phenomenon could occur without a loved one being present? Would a photo suffice to also help reduce pain? Researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles (Master et al., 2009) designed an elegantly simple laboratory experiment to find out. They ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2881206 Sun, 11 Oct 2009 10:09:34 +0100 2881206 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2862625&cid=t_113249_122_f&fid=34755&url=http%3A%2F%2Fneuropsychological.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F10%2Fmultitasking-cons.html If you only do one thing this week … avoid multitaskingOften considered the pinnacle of efficiency, multitasking can actually be a negative practice, according to latest research. So stop what else you're doing and concentrate, says Giles MorrisGiles Morrisguardian.co.ukMonday 5 October 2009 11.33 BSTRead the full article (Source: BrainBlog) BrainBlog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2862625 Mon, 05 Oct 2009 18:41:00 +0100 2862625 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2793285&cid=t_113249_122_f&fid=35065&url=http%3A%2F%2Feideneurolearningblog.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F09%2Fmulti-tasking-dumbs-us-down-for-some.html "They're suckers for irrelevancy," said communication Professor Clifford Nass... "Everything distracts them."Because many in your acquaintance (or even household) may proudly tout their media multi-tasking ability, researchers thought for sure they could identify the cognitive gifts that come with this ability. Researchers at Stanford searched high and low for this gift, but their final conclusion - it's not a gift at all, but a liability."We kept looking for what they're better at, and we didn't find it," said Ophir, the study's lead author and a researcher in Stanford's Communication Between Humans and Interactive Media Lab. Now by true multi-tasking, we don't really mean semi-automatic activities like listening to familiar pleasant music, walking, or driving a car. These tasks don't req... Eide Neurolearning Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2793285 Mon, 14 Sep 2009 07:01:00 +0100 2793285 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2682024&cid=t_113249_122_f&fid=34755&url=http%3A%2F%2Fneuropsychological.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F08%2Fattention-and-concentration.html Dr. Ed Vogel of the University of Oregon on Distraction and The Brain, a short YouTube video: (Source: BrainBlog) BrainBlog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2682024 Fri, 07 Aug 2009 21:35:00 +0100 2682024 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2641495&cid=t_113249_140_f&fid=35443&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FTheSplinteredMind%2F%7E3%2FWrTJzy4KBiM%2Fthrough-my-drinking-glass.html Originally uploaded by Darkstream. Sometimes I just need to get out of the apartment to get work done. That may find me sitting in a parking lot somewhere working on my MacBook at 2am, or, as in this example, hanging out at an all-night restaurant. The IHOP “ambience” was probably nicer than other places I've been in, but the patrons at night tend to be coarser and far more inebriated than daytime customers. Moments after taking this picture I was treated to Punch & Judy. They started off sweet enough, but suddenly he was mouthing off over and over again at the top of his emotionally sensitive lungs about how he didn't give a copulating pair of rodents about her past life. She laughed. Then pressed on. She wanted to discuss what she learned from her relationship with her ex-husband a... The Splintered Mind by Douglas Cootey blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2641495 Sun, 26 Jul 2009 21:33:12 +0100 2641495 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2630416&cid=t_113249_180_f&fid=38610&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.productivity501.com%2Fways-to-deal-with-distraction%2F4478%2F This article points out a few ways to deal with this problem. Sounding off on Cubical Survival Tips-Office Smurf This article gives some sound advice (pardon the pun) for eliminating or coping with a loudness in the workplace. Noisy Coworkers: 5 Ways to Deal with Them-noisycoworkers.com When the cacophony becomes to bad, distraction can devastate concentration, and in turn, devastate productivity. The author of this article presents some helpful tips for those who need to be able to focus amid the confusion. Cubicles: The Art of Working With Distractions-Melissa Nykorchuk This article focuses on the social side of dealing with cubicle distractions. Instead of looking at objects as a way to solve the issue, the author explores the social side of the issue. Staying focused at work 18 Ways... Productivity501 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2630416 Wed, 22 Jul 2009 20:00:05 +0100 2630416 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2348547&cid=t_113249_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F04%2F15%2Fmindfulness-and-psychotherapy-an-interview-with-dr-elisha-goldstein%2F I have mentioned Dr. Elisha Goldstein in a few of my blogs. Psych Central added his blog, “Mindfulness and Psychotherapy” just as I was looking more into mindfulness and relaxation techniques myself in order to try to de-stress. Dr. Goldstein brings much experience and wisdom on the topic to readers who are willing to try train the mind to stay centered on the moment. He is a clinical psychologist and conducts private practice in West Los Angeles. And he and his wife just gave birth to their first child a few days ago! 1. Dr. Goldstein, you explain in several places on your blog that we attempt to use mindfulness to calm the distressed mind by breathing in and acknowledging the stress and while breathing out, saying something like “It’s okay.” Sometimes the mi... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2348547 Wed, 15 Apr 2009 15:52:33 +0100 2348547 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2326798&cid=t_113249_140_f&fid=35443&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FTheSplinteredMind%2F%7E3%2FEw77aIhdadc%2Fsomewhat-ungreat-day-that-wasnt-really.html Yesterday was an interesting day. I was both busy and distracted. I can't say I accomplished a great deal, but I did things. When I wasn't watching the girls while my wife scooted about town, I forced myself to face fears. I posted an audio blog that featured me playing a tinwhistle. (You have no idea how hard it was for me to do that), and I participated in video chats on Seesmic.com (That was even harder). All in all, it wasn't a bad day if you ignore all the mindless socializing online, reading news, blog tweaking, and trips to the eye doctor.Not a great day then, upon reflection. Not great in comparison to the deeds of mighty men, or at least men with more than half a brain. Not great according to the pathetically unchecked todo list I was supposed to polish off. Not great then, but de... The Splintered Mind by Douglas Cootey blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2326798 Sat, 11 Apr 2009 21:44:23 +0100 2326798 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2326799&cid=t_113249_140_f&fid=35443&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FTheSplinteredMind%2F%7E5%2FAOuEOAeG6DY%2FSplinteredNarrative009.m4a I have AD/HD like Ben & Jerry's has ice cream. Downtime is a big waste of time for me because I can't ever busy myself with useful things. For instance, I know a writer who works on her novel while ferrying her kids from dance to soccer to whatever. Impossible for me to even consider. I talk a little bit about that today and how I've been solving the problem. I'd love to hear your thoughts on the subject.Mobile post sent by TheLaughingImp using Utterli.  Replies.  mp3 (Source: The Splintered Mind by Douglas Cootey) The Splintered Mind by Douglas Cootey blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2326799 Sat, 11 Apr 2009 13:02:23 +0100 2326799 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2300271&cid=t_113249_140_f&fid=35443&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FTheSplinteredMind%2F%7E3%2FlmpgQ355I_Q%2Fso-what-exactly-am-i-supposed-to-be.html Over the past few months I have addressed your questions in the comments sections and made promises to dedicate articles to some of the questions you have raised. Then I forgot.It's that cursed AD/HD thingummy. You'd think I would have learned my lesson and written the questions down or, even more helpful, started the articles as drafts with nothing but the questions recorded so I wouldn't forget them. Alas, I'm just not that organized.If you can remember which topics I promised to cover that I haven't written about already, please let me know here in the comments. I know there are a few topics left uncovered. Will vs. Wallow part four is still waiting to be written, for example. This is also a wonderful opportunity for you to pitch ideas to me. Just be kind:Reader1: Hey, remember you prom... The Splintered Mind by Douglas Cootey blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2300271 Thu, 02 Apr 2009 13:00:00 +0100 2300271 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2300272&cid=t_113249_140_f&fid=35443&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FTheSplinteredMind%2F%7E3%2Fsa7pSig1u2c%2Fquiet-riot.html My Woeful Tale about ADHD and Background Noise.One aspect of AD/HD that drives me bonkers is my inability to close out background noise. In fact, a better way to describe it would be to say that foreground and background noise switch within the addled confines of my mind. This is one reason I despised taking exams at the testing center during my time at BYU. After passing through metal detectors and receiving a deep body cavity search, my pockets would be emptied out by use of gravity waves. These waves would be generated by very tall athletes lifting me heavenward by the ankles while shaking me roughly. It is assumed the accoutrements of deception would fall to the ground. I lost more pocket change that way.Once I survived the gauntlet of hands and had my backpack x-rayed for radio device... The Splintered Mind by Douglas Cootey blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2300272 Wed, 01 Apr 2009 13:00:00 +0100 2300272 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2287196&cid=t_113249_109_f&fid=35044&url=http%3A%2F%2Fadultaddstrengths.com%2F2009%2F03%2F23%2Fpete-quoted-in-cnn-article%2F Post from: Adult ADD Strengths Pete Quoted in CNN Article on Using Music at Work to Help You Focus I was quoted today on CNN’s website on an interesting article called “Listening to music at work — dos and don’ts”by Anthony Balderrama Listening to music at work can be more than just fun for some people. According to Peter Quily, adult Attention Deficit Disorder coach, music can have a physiological effect on his patients who suffer from adult ADD. According to Quily, listening to music boosts the levels of neurotransmitter dopamine, a brain chemical that can help people focus. Some of Quily’s clients listen to music when they can’t focus or when they’re performing a task they find boring. People who have ADHD often have dopamine levels that a... Adult ADD Strengths blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2287196 Mon, 23 Mar 2009 19:50:41 +0100 2287196 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2300277&cid=t_113249_140_f&fid=35443&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FTheSplinteredMind%2F%7E3%2FxgC9fdXT8ak%2Fhere-belated-st-patty-day-photo-for-ya.html . Originally uploaded by Darkstream. Using the ToyCamera app on my iPhone. I was teaching the Leprechaun how to read time signatures…again. Hopefully, she got it this time.Allergies have completely knocked me for a loop and a roll this past week. Elm & Cottonwood are not my friends. Add to that my recuperating from the forum I attended on the 12th & 13th and I have not had a very productive week. I know I was busy. I'm sure of it. I just can't remember exactly how I spent my time. I did not view episodes of Stargate SG1 all week long in a neurological daze, I assure myself you. (Source: The Splintered Mind by Douglas Cootey) The Splintered Mind by Douglas Cootey blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2300277 Mon, 23 Mar 2009 03:36:59 +0100 2300277 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2276194&cid=t_113249_133_f&fid=35124&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Faspergerwoman%2F%7E5%2FWXpPO8R3VQw%2FMastication From Wikipedia:Mastication or chewing is the process by which food is crushed and ground by teeth. It is the first step of digestion and it increases the surface area of foods to allow more efficient break down by enzymes. During the mastication process, the food is positioned between the teeth for grinding by the cheek and tongue. As chewing continues, the food is made softer and warmer, and the enzymes in saliva begin to break down carbohydrates in the food. After chewing, the food (now called a bolus) is swallowed. It enters the esophagus and continues on to the stomach, where the next step of digestion occurs.Mastication is a repetitive sequence of jaw opening and closing with a profile in the vertical plane called the chewing cycle. Mastication consists of a number of chewing cycles. ... The Art of Being Asperger Woman blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2276194 Mon, 09 Mar 2009 21:58:00 +0100 2276194 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2182744&cid=t_113249_140_f&fid=35443&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthesplinteredmind.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F02%2Fadhd-miley-cyrus-distracts-me-again.html In the middle of rewrites for a picture book manuscript I've been working on, I somehow found myself wandering the neon blinking streets of the Information Super Heycoollookatthat! I use a Twitter client called Twitterrific to keep me posted on the people I follow. I had set it to only update once an hour — you know, to give myself a fighting chance — but even that was too frequent. Instead of focusing on rewrites for "The Secret Life of My Cat, Sneakers" (a picture book I have previously finished but am rewriting), I saw a news update that said something about Miley Cyrus being sued for $4 billion by angry Asians. I was weak.A half hour later I knew all about this recent hiccup in 16 year old Miley's non-stop flight to Laughingstock City. Hanging out with her 20 year old boyfriend, Mi... The Splintered Mind by Douglas Cootey blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2182744 Thu, 12 Feb 2009 19:49:00 +0100 2182744 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1999531&cid=t_113249_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F469469130%2F Karolinska Institute's Dr. Torkel Klingberg has just released in the US his excellent book The Overflowing Brain: Information Overload and the Limits of Working Memory  The title was first released in Sweden with great success, and our co-founder Dr. Elkhonon Goldberg gave a Foreword to the new US edition. Dr. Klingberg will be writing an essay for SharpBrains readers soon, so we can discuss the importance of this topic and his work in depth. Let me now link to two thought-provoking reviews of the book: Attention Must Be Paid (Inside Higher Ed) - "The weak link in the information age seems to be our human hard-wiring. So one gathers from The Overflowing Brain: Information Overload and the Limits of Working Memory (Oxford University Press) by Torkel Klingberg, who is a professor of d... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1999531 Sat, 29 Nov 2008 17:05:18 +0100 1999531 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1642746&cid=t_113249_140_f&fid=35443&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthesplinteredmind.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F07%2Fadventures-in-adhd-so-what-did-i-find.html After a month of experimentation, what exactly did I learn about the ADHD obstacles between me and my desired goals?The project seemed so simple. Choose two goals to complete during the month of May. Work towards completing those goals, and only those two goals, and take notes on the types of obstacles you encounter. This was going to be my big stand against ADHD — my showdown at high noon. I live in the West. We have tumbleweed. It was perfect.Then I had my fanny handed to me by a wagon-load of nitroglycerin pulled by a team of hyperactive horses. Goal one, to finish the first draft of a picture book so that I could shelf it and focus on my novel, was completed. Goal two, to finish designs for a web project, was not as successful. Turns out, the first goal wasn't such a success either. ... The Splintered Mind by Douglas Cootey blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1642746 Mon, 21 Jul 2008 22:45:00 +0100 1642746 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1531186&cid=t_113249_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2008%2F06%2F20%2Fdistracted-while-driving%2F Anybody who’s driven a car knows there’s been an instant or two where they’ve become distracted. The vast majority of the time such distractions don’t result in any problems. But once in awhile, the distraction can cause an accident, resulting in injury and even death. We often think of distractions in terms of what’s distracting us — a screaming child or cell phone ringing. But psychologists who study distractions while driving look at it differently. They’ve classified four broad categories of distractions while driving (Stutts et al., 2005): Visual distractions (e.g., focusing on something other than the road) Audible distractions (e.g., someone talking) Physical distractions (e.g., eating) Cognitive distractions (e.g., something that ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1531186 Fri, 20 Jun 2008 13:44:29 +0100 1531186 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1508638&cid=t_113249_140_f&fid=35443&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthesplinteredmind.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F05%2Fprogress-report-my-month-as-adhd.html Remember that experiment last month where I was supposed to be analyzing just how Multi-Irons Syndrome affected me? Yeah, me neither.I wasn't able to post my month in review on May 30th because I was racing across I-15 that day. It seemed all of a sudden I was the guy elected to drive two of my daughters to an Irish feis in Scottsdale, Arizona. I would have enjoyed the scenery more if the trip hadn't occurred in the dark. I did get to see quite a bit of wildlife cross my headlights as I broke the sound barrier over the desert floor. (Who needs the Bonneville Salt Flats?) I saw a coyote and a whole herd of jackrabbits. I even saw the Milky Way, which I was relieved to find out was still there. I hadn't seen it in quite some time. Word must have been out, though, that I was coming. I had the... The Splintered Mind by Douglas Cootey blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1508638 Wed, 11 Jun 2008 14:00:00 +0100 1508638 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1472582&cid=t_113249_140_f&fid=35443&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthesplinteredmind.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F05%2Fmandatory-adhd-screening-and-treatment.html I'm busy working on my chapter novel/wicked big picture book and came across this eye opening article by Philip Dawdy over at Furious Seasons during a break:New ADHD Study Pimps ADHD Workplace ScreeningDrug maker Eli Lilly funded a study that recommends mandatory ADHD screening and treatment (i.e. medicating) at the workplace in order to improve worker productivity. After all, we ADHD guys are costing the company money through lost hours of brainless ADHD spinning. The study says so. You know, because only ADHD people get bored and play Solitaire at work, chat at the water cooler, text message, surf the web, do email, take long lunches, etc.Philip breaks the study down and explains why it's a bad idea with questionable legitimacy......I love to read your comments so please take time to vis... The Splintered Mind by Douglas Cootey blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1472582 Wed, 28 May 2008 13:00:00 +0100 1472582 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1469810&cid=t_113249_140_f&fid=35443&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthesplinteredmind.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F05%2Ftodo-lists-for-win-unless-they-make-you.html Winding up the month, I take a look at one of my ToDo lists that induces more terror than self-satisfaction.As I've detailed here for the past month, people with ADHD have a tendency to pile on projects. Over time it becomes necessary to prune these projects before they take on a density that threatens to collapse into a black hole. People with ADHD aren't really any different than most people, however. We all find the excitement of a new project exhilarating. Opportunities abound in life to start new projects while we trudge along with our current ones. Blogger Chris Brogan recently wrote about this problem with his post "Saying No". Chris described how he had to clear off his plate to make room for the most important projects. That involved telling many people "No". Saying "No" to others... The Splintered Mind by Douglas Cootey blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1469810 Mon, 26 May 2008 15:00:00 +0100 1469810 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1463892&cid=t_113249_140_f&fid=35443&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthesplinteredmind.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F05%2Fweek-three-in-progress-my-greatest.html So far this has been an excellent project to undertake. For those who have not been following along all month, I have decided to do something about my Multi-Irons Syndrome once and for all. I have deliberately picked two projects — one paying, one private — and set them as the ONLY projects I will allow myself to work on. This is a very difficult task for somebody like me with an ADHD brain so terrified of tedium that it commits me to at least 39 new and exciting projects each and every morning before I've had my breakfast. As I make mental notes of when I become distracted, what caused it, and what type of distraction it was, I've identified a few more distractions in my life to add to the list. Each one plays its part to block me from success. My goal is to figure out how to manage t... The Splintered Mind by Douglas Cootey blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1463892 Fri, 23 May 2008 13:00:00 +0100 1463892 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1301874&cid=t_113249_140_f&fid=35443&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthesplinteredmind.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F03%2Fvideo-placebos-use-as-prescribed.html Since placebos have been shown to be as effective as some current anti-depressants, can perky technopop from Japan have the same effect?This week is a busy one for me. I'm currently sitting in a parking lot awaiting my twelve year old to finish instructing her students at dance. As I sit here impatiently waiting to get on with my personal projects, I've been reflecting on an upcoming conference I'm attending. I've registered for the UVSC Forum for Children's Literature and submitted a manuscript for review, something that I have a great deal of apprehension about. Not for the obvious reasons like being afraid of rejection. I've already been sending that ms about for months and have started piling rejections up aplenty. No, I'm more worried about whether the reviewer's critique will be rele... The Splintered Mind by Douglas Cootey blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1301874 Fri, 14 Mar 2008 05:45:00 +0100 1301874 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1296109&cid=t_113249_133_f&fid=35129&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwhitterer-autism.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F03%2Fwordy-wednesday-deep-proprioceptive.html Ms. Wordy Wednesday is alarmed on arrival.“Good grief Maddy! Is he o.k.? What did you do to the little chap? What is that huge thing on him? Or was it an accident? Is that a tooth brush in his mouth? Did he choke?”“Um…where should I start? That big blue thing is a wedge, shaped like a slice of cake and we use it to do some amateur occupational therapy stuff.”“Oh.”“You’re right, that is a tooth brush, he’s cleaning his teeth, he didn’t choke and it’s not accidental that he’s under the big blue wedge, he did it deliberately, himself.”“Um…..somehow…..that explanation doesn’t seem to help very much.”“Sorry. Let’s start at the beginning. That’s my youngest one.”“Ah, the one with all the extra raw exposed nerve endings.”“Yes and the ‘don’t ... Whitterer on Autism blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1296109 Tue, 11 Mar 2008 17:35:00 +0100 1296109 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1270588&cid=t_113249_133_f&fid=35129&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwhitterer-autism.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F03%2Fwomankind-idleness-is-devils-work.html It’s great to be a woman in today’s world because we are always busy and never bored. I’m so busy right now I hardly have a minute to write, but no matter, because most of my writing is already written a week ahead of time, which means I just have to push the ‘publish’ button. I rarely do ‘real time.’Meanwhile I do laundry, wash, dry, fold and put away. When I’m not doing that I fill in with childcare, homework, band aides and kisses goodnight. I have friends that I can call for a chat, people I can meet and always the never ending shopping. I am just like every other busy mum and stay at home parent. I’m so busy that many things back up, so that instead of darning a sock I’ll throw it away and buy a new pair. I must be a strange spectacle, beetling about my house dress... Whitterer on Autism blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1270588 Sat, 01 Mar 2008 15:50:00 +0100 1270588 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1256322&cid=t_113249_140_f&fid=35443&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthesplinteredmind.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F02%2Fadult-adhd-ambitions-5-pick-your.html Is there something in your life you'd like to improve? Set a goal and track it with us here.I discovered a socnet called iRovr today. It's an iPhone only socnet so it intrigued me. NOT because it would allow me to be an elitist boob looking down my nose at all the poor people saddled with their clunky, unsexy cellphones (as some pundits pontificate), but because the site was designed to utilize iPhone features and I'm a geek and that sort of thing is like pollen to a bee for me. Any web browser can access iRovr, but as you can probably see it is formatted for the iPhone. My splendiferous profile is here.I can go on and on about the iRovr stream and how freakin' cool it is and how you should all buy an iPhone so you can experience the pure joy of social networking iPhone style (did I mentio... The Splintered Mind by Douglas Cootey blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1256322 Mon, 25 Feb 2008 20:59:00 +0100 1256322 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1246656&cid=t_113249_140_f&fid=35443&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthesplinteredmind.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F02%2Fdeclaring-email-bankruptcy-or-how-to.html If you have AD/HD and look at your email inbox with dread, or if you just loathe email's demand on your time even without all the poor attention spannie bits, then I have some tips for you.I send a lot of email. I receive a lot of email. It may surprise you to learn then that I hate email. It's not that email isn't important to me. Ideally, it is communication with others and that is always important. The problem is that email isn't just about communication. It's more like looking for important letters stuffed inside the daily pile of ads and grocery store inserts you find in your real world mailbox. Who has time for that? In fact, the more cluttered and backlogged my inbox gets, the lower on my priorities email becomes. Why do it at all? Why not just never check my email again?Why? Becaus... The Splintered Mind by Douglas Cootey blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1246656 Thu, 21 Feb 2008 01:51:00 +0100 1246656 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1223750&cid=t_113249_140_f&fid=35443&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthesplinteredmind.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F02%2Fmonday-musings.html Sometimes days don't go as planned. Sometimes weeks, months, and years don't go as planned either.As I sit here letting my ramen boil (imported over the Rocky Mountains by the finest asian yaks) and wondering how I'm going to salvage my day, I know that the day is not at its best because I've contracted the lousy cold my family was cultivating over the weekend. I'm not whining about it. Colds come with Winter, my all time favorite season. After all, with a history of Depression, Insomnia, and a laughably silly immunity system I know far too well that this is the season for being sick. I know, also, that being sick isn't the only thing I'm dealing with. In fact, it is not even the worse thing I am dealing with. Right now, my brain has ceased functioning because of all the noise. Apparently,... The Splintered Mind by Douglas Cootey blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1223750 Mon, 11 Feb 2008 21:21:00 +0100 1223750 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1215370&cid=t_113249_140_f&fid=35443&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthesplinteredmind.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F02%2Fthoughts-from-night-owl.html Sometimes being an insomniac can be fun. I can do anything I want without distraction. No ringing phones. No squealing girls. No fighting. No distracting conversation. I can work or spin (my term for living in the AD/HD moment of hyper focused distraction) to my heart's content. I get a surprising amount of work done at night without the pandemonium of family life. Last night, for instance, I redesigned my daughter's website and worked until 5am. That was by choice and I felt pretty good about things when I reached the end of my goal.Sometimes I'm awake for no reason, however. My body says "Hey. Four hours of sleep is enough. Weee!" I know I'll pay for it later in the day with the inevitable ticking episode, but what can I do about it? It's insomnia. "Take a pill!" is the usual helpful rep... The Splintered Mind by Douglas Cootey blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1215370 Thu, 07 Feb 2008 10:45:00 +0100 1215370 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1123390&cid=t_113249_140_f&fid=35443&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthesplinteredmind.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F12%2Fwhat-are-you-reading-seesmic.html I was able to score one of the coveted invites to the beta site www.seesmic.com and started playing around with it today. I can't tell you yet if it is a fancy distraction or a useful communication tool. The best way to describe it is Twitter with video. It's not YouTube, however. Conversations are done entirely with video. Imagine hundreds of people using their webcams to reply to deep, philosophical questions while hanging out in their bathrobes. Isn't technology wonderful? I look like something the Irish Setter dragged in, but I was willing to give it a go. (Cat's are much smaller and couldn't drag me anywhere. It's all that good food I ate and apparently tucked away like a treasured keepsake onto my waistline over the holidays.)tags technorati : ADD ADHD AD/HD Distraction SeesmicLike r... The Splintered Mind by Douglas Cootey blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1123390 Mon, 31 Dec 2007 19:22:00 +0100 1123390 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1119315&cid=t_113249_140_f&fid=35443&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthesplinteredmind.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F12%2Ffinding-humor-in-adhd.html My forty first birthday has come and gone and I survived. A few more of my hairs have grayed, my eyes are a bit more wizened, but otherwise I am no different than I was when I was forty. Or thirty, to be honest. For all my talk about managing Depression with Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Positive Thinking, and a spicy stick of gum, my attempts to manage AD/HD have not been as impressive. I won't bore you with the details. Just peruse through any book on Adult ADD and you'll see me written all over the pages. People with AD/HD make so many mistakes they tend to have self-esteem that droops and drags. The trick to my sparkling self-image is that I learned to laugh at myself years ago. I make so many mistakes I keep myself in stitches all day.If you weren't already aware, people with AD/HD ten... The Splintered Mind by Douglas Cootey blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1119315 Thu, 27 Dec 2007 22:24:00 +0100 1119315 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1081633&cid=t_113249_109_f&fid=35677&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FBrainBasedBusiness%2F%7E3%2F197346662%2Fflee_from_focus_to_find_anothe.html Yesterday I met a man who’d just been downsized and lost his job. With Christmas just around the corner and a young family – this young man had no idea how to tell his wife the bad news.  He dreaded going home. Have you been there? If you’ve ever been demoted or fired … or even if you’ve run into negative barbs unexpectedly at work …  you're actually better off to flee from any focus your mind imposes at that moment. Why so? Without your help … the human brain tends to cling tight to hurdles and hurts. It can literally lock you into heartaches … when the going gets rough. To center on a hurt or hurdle …  holds you back mentally and adds stress that shuts down your ability to escape a... BrainBasedBusiness blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1081633 Sat, 08 Dec 2007 23:58:27 +0100 1081633 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=921809&cid=t_113249_140_f&fid=35443&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthesplinteredmind.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F10%2Fbrick-walls-in-your-way.html I could write a 900 word article at this moment, or I could watch a movie with my 12 year old daughter. There's not really much of a contest between the two. Obviously, my daughter wins. However, I did read something today that touched me. I'd like to share it with you then go join my daughter. Today I learned of Randy Pausch, a Carnegie Mellon University computer-science professor. He has recently been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and has only a few months to live. This made his turn at his University's "Last Lecture" series more poignant than academic. He is 46 years old and compared to me light years ahead as far as life's accomplishments. That's what focus, determination, and passion does for one. Instead of feeling inferior, however, I was moved by what I read. Even inspired. I im... The Splintered Mind by Douglas Cootey blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=921809 Tue, 02 Oct 2007 07:31:00 +0100 921809 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=848376&cid=t_113249_140_f&fid=35443&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthesplinteredmind.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F09%2Ftake-time-to-refocus-your-energies.html Do not wait for a change of environment before you act; get a change of environment by action.~Wallace WattlesI'm not entirely sold on the Law of Attraction. I'm a skeptic. I find it hard to believe the Universe is just waiting to lavish me with success if I just ask it nicely. However, I am 100% behind positive attitudes that transform one's world view. With a scrappy enough attitude, we can change our world. When my life isn't going the way I'd like it to I can be certain that I have not been directing my thoughts in a postive and constructive way. Lately, my life has been a mess. Although I am not at fault for the chaos of others around me, I can do more to assert order to my own chaos. Today I am recommitting to certain goals, eliminating distractions to have more time to work on my go... The Splintered Mind by Douglas Cootey blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=848376 Fri, 07 Sep 2007 12:00:00 +0100 848376 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=694240&cid=t_113249_140_f&fid=35443&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthesplinteredmind.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F06%2Fadhd-six-ways-to-stop-boredom.html Is it possible to halt a dopamine deprived brain from bouncing out of its skull the moment boredom sets in? I believe it is and I'll be covering six ways I've found that work for me all this week. Contrary to popular belief, as evidenced by some of my more vitriolic commenters, I have AD/HD, and until recent years it made my life a living hell. That's not to say that I suddenly found a cure. No, instead I grew tired of being beat up by consequences and decided to make some changes in my life. Ever heard of consequences? You know, show up late to work and get fired. Forget to lock up the store after you leave and get fired. Paste a newspaper article upside down and get fired... Those kind of consequences? (I still maintain that I didn't paste that newspaper article upside down, but instead... The Splintered Mind by Douglas Cootey blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=694240 Mon, 25 Jun 2007 08:31:00 +0100 694240 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=552002&cid=t_113249_140_f&fid=35443&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthesplinteredmind.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F03%2Fgirls-guide-to-adhd.html "How come girls guides to everything are always stupid and contrived?" ~ My 15 year old daughter.If you are Beth Walker, you may want to skip by this review. It is not going to be kind. In fact, judging by the glowing reviews for your book over at Amazon.com this review may come as a surprise. I felt this book assaulted my attention span with a sledgehammer covered with sparkles. I had a hard time thumbing through it, nevermind reading it. However, I gave it the old college try several times and each time failed miserably to get through a complete chapter. I tried skipping about to see if the book improved but experienced the same results. At first, I cursed my Attention Deficit Disorder. That must be the culprit. It's only a book. I like books. Surely, I can read this one. Soon, however, ... The Splintered Mind by Douglas Cootey blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=552002 Sat, 24 Mar 2007 03:47:00 +0100 552002 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=552005&cid=t_113249_140_f&fid=35443&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthesplinteredmind.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F03%2Fthirteen-things-ive-been-busy-doing.html I bet you've been wondering if I'd fallen off the planet. Maybe you feared I had blogfaded and wasn't coming back. Well, darling, I just learned I earned 45¢ Google revenue last month and I'm thinking I can double that if I actually posted something once in a while. I'm in this for the money, baby - the piles and piles of coinage that Google Adsense sends my way. Oh yeah. If we keep this up I might be able to retire in opulence by 2031. Or was that 3031? At any rate, I hope you enjoyed the article I posted yesterday, and to sate your curiosity about where I've been I present the following: Writing BooksI began my sabbatical by promising myself I would finish my juvenile fiction novel by my fortieth birthday. Alas, being a fulltime Dad, homeschool teacher, and graphic designer on the side ... The Splintered Mind by Douglas Cootey blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=552005 Sat, 03 Mar 2007 06:14:00 +0100 552005 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=551997&cid=t_113249_140_f&fid=35443&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthesplinteredmind.blogspot.com%2F2006%2F10%2Finsomniais-my-enemy.html If I could begin with the end in mind then work towards the end without getting waylaid by shiny new distractions I might be able to lick this insomnia. Today I push my clock back by three hours. I always seem to end upside down when I get sick. Now it's time to get turvy topsy again.I'm feeling much better tonight, actually. I look forward to finishing the roughs on my client's logo design. For the past few weeks I've been studying hands, but I may pull out the Moleskine and get crackin'. I want to further explore a pencil vocabulary. It's not quite a second language to me yet, though my base level has improved vastly. Homeschooling is going well. I have more work tomorrow ahead of me. Have to set up the girl's new computer. This entry is rather journally, isn't it? Well, off to bed, an... The Splintered Mind by Douglas Cootey blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=551997 Tue, 10 Oct 2006 09:38:00 +0100 551997 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=551998&cid=t_113249_140_f&fid=35443&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthesplinteredmind.blogspot.com%2F2006%2F10%2Ftrue-but-somewhat-harsh-epiphany.html I'm missing passion, dedication & focus in my life. A little bit more of any one of these will help stop the tide of mindless distractions that fill my world......NOTICE RSS FEED READERS: I have completed merging the two blogs. Now I will be adding categories to old entries over the next few weeks. I regret to say that this will post all those old entries into the RSS feed. Your patience please. Thanks for your support! .....I love to read your comments so please take time to visit my site. Registration is not necessary. You can even post anonymously. (Source: The Splintered Mind by Douglas Cootey) The Splintered Mind by Douglas Cootey blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=551998 Sun, 08 Oct 2006 01:14:00 +0100 551998